On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 2:12 PM, Olin Lathrop w= rote: > So you think newbies should get special dispensation? =A0When you first > approach 2000 people to ask them for a favor is when you should be > especially careful and respectful. Yes, but maybe only once. New list users who have post poor quality posts do need to be told the rules of engagement, but I think there better ways of achieving this. I completely agree that there should be respect. > You earn slack over time, not the other way around. Really. I don't post often, usually anecdotally ( Not adding much value:- / ), but I think I know the rules of engagement. If I had a particularly poor post. I would expect less slack as I should know better, also I'll be well aware of the personalities on the list, so should understand why I got a sharp response and how to take individual's responses. I personally prefer the Carrot over the Stick. Stick works with some people depends on your personality, but in a community is would scare some away people away. > If he didn't feel welcome, it was because of what he did. =A0He didn't gi= ve > more context on his project despite direct and clear questions. =A0He sti= ll > hasn't figured out how to show us a simple schematic (not that I actually > ever asked for one. =A0I thought that was premature). =A0He refused to fo= llow > basic english rules of starting sentences with capital letters and ending > them with periods. =A0Note that his choice of words and grammer are *not*= the > issue since he's obviously not a native speaker. I got that the OP was not a native English speaker, but I thought his later posts there was text speak. > Consider that nearly 2000 people didn't respond to him. =A0The difference= was > that I explained why I wasn't, in fact couldn't, provide help. =A0So you = think > it's better to silently let the OP flounder rather than helping him > understand his mistakes? =A0You think total silence would have been more > welcoming? Not at all, I suggest that there should be a response... pointing to the FAQ, and politely saying, there is not enough info for us to help. Please go have a read of the FAQ and come back to us. Regardless of the quality of the question, he should still be made welcome. As already mentioned, I understand and agree with what you were trying to get across, I'm just suggesting a way that does not sound like we are giving the poster a dressing down. Telling him to read the FAQ / Guidelines. Highlighting sections on constructing a question. Should save you/me/list time :-) rather than responding with a long post explaining everything that was wrong with his post. But the FAQ possibly needs updating / expanding. This is how it has worked on other Newsgroups I've been involved with. > I'm still willing to help this guy, but he has to do his part. =A0In my f= irst > post I asked three questions: > ................. > These questions are relevant and their answers would be useful. =A0They a= lso > don't require attaching large documents. =A0There is simply no excuse for= not > providing the answers. I know you will still help, you almost always do. It does not go un-noticed. I'm in the background reading and learning. Thank you. > Before blaming the messenger for not being welcoming, don't forget to loo= k > at the message and the reasons behind it. I'm not blaming you, I did read the posts, I also agree with the sentiment of your post. I'm just suggesting possibly more welcoming method of dealing with new list users who get it wrong. Best regards, Gordon --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .